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Show from the Sacramento River to the San Joaquin Valley. The most important of these projects are within the tidal influence of the ocean and do not require fresh water for their operation. Navigation on the Sacramento River above Sac- ramento involves the operation of Shasta Reservoir to provide certain minimum flows in this reach for navigation purposes. Reservoir releases for irriga- tion in the summer and tributary inflow during the winter provide sufficient water in the Sacramento River above Sacramento for navigation during a major portion of the year. However, periodically special releases primarily for navigation are re- quired. These will flow out to the ocean unused for irrigation. The need for water for irrigation and municipal and industrial purposes is much more critical, and its value is higher, than for navigation. Therefore, in the course of time it would appear desirable to eliminate special water releases solely for naviga- tion. This will not necessarily mean the elimina- tion of navigation above Sacramento, since reservoir releases for other purposes, including salinity con- trol and tributary inflow, will be sufficient to main- tain navigation depths for a major part of the year. If year-round navigation later is considered desir- able and is found to be economically feasible, a slack water navigation channel could be built. Watershed Management and Sediment Control Watershed management is an essential element in the water plan for the Central Valley. It is needed in order to prolong the useful life of proj- ects, to provide maximum amounts of usable water, and to conserve and protect the productive capacity of the valley's soil resources. Watershed manage- ment, which is partially in effect now for many of the Federal headwater lands, should be intensified, and should be basin-wide, especially in view of the fact that practically every major stream has or is proposed to have on it one or more water develop- ments. Capable, intelligent watershed manage- ment should precede the construction of the facil- ities whose life and functions may be significantly affected by untoward practices or uses within the watershed. At the very least, adequate land treat- ment programs should be established in significantly affected project areas to proceed concurrently with engineering construction. Watershed management is not considered a sub- stitute for, but instead insurance for and comple- ment to, downstream water resources development. Fisheries Salmon and steelhead trout are desirable re- sources of the Central Valley, especially for sports fishing. Their maintenance is proposed in the plan for as long a period as is possible by deferring projects on the upper Sacramento River (like Iron Canyon) which would destroy the more valuable spawning beds. In time, it may be possible to work out methods whereby the loss of these spawning grounds would not destroy the resource. For instance, if proper steps are taken, north coastal streams of the State may well supply a better pro- duction of anadromous fish than they now do. However, when the need for water development becomes so acute that a choice must be made be- tween water for the general economy of the basin and fisheries, a decision will have to be made based on a determination of the relative value of the con- tribution of each to the national and regional economy. Recreation The Sierras are the natural playground for the residents of California. Every year an increasing number visit the State parks and forests and na- tional parks, monuments, and forests. Although the mountains with their big trees and interesting geology attract many, people flock to those areas which in addition provide water recreation in vari- ous forms. Unfortunately, these developments are not numerous, considering the population and the accessibility of places in the basin. There are so few of these that any new water resources develop- ment immediately attracts attention. Recreation must be an element in the full plan for using the resources of the valley. Recreation facilities should be provided in nearly every water resources reservoir project, some reservoirs operated with due regard to recreational uses and values, and water released into normal stream channels to meet sport-fishing requirements. There should also be provided necessary access to the reservoir area, and sufficient publicly owned land about the lake to enable public control of use and improve- ments and to obtain full values from the whole reservoir area. Cooperative action of Federal, State, and local agencies will be needed to procure the best form of planning, construction, operation, and maintenance. Envisioned also as part of the full use of all of the recreational potential is greater provision for 151 |